Tray type carton



Dec. 18, 1951 K.'T. BUTTERY TRAY TYPE CARTON Filed July 15, 1947 ZINVENTOR af/er Q8 ATTO RN EY m m p z. b/m T 1 6 v i MA B Z. "1 02mm .1 mm, m2 8 ,1 5

W all Patented Dec. 18, 1951 2,578,878 TRAY TYPE CARTON Kenneth T. Buttery, Kalamazoo, Mich, assignor to Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 15, 1947, Serial No. 761,107

Claims. I

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a collapsible tray or box formed 01' an integral ,blank which may be easily and quickly erected and when erected the walls are interlocked and supported to sustain substantial load.

Second, to provide a collapsible tray or box having the above stated advantages in which the A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tray or box embodying my invention in erected position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the box collapsed or in the flat.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical longitudinal section illustrating engagement of the corner flaps with the side walls.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the manner of engagement of the corner flaps with the side walls.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary inside perspective view of a corner of the box illustrating the relation of the parts when in erected position.

My improved collapsible tray or box comprises a bottom I, side walls 2, 2, and end walls 3, 3, the side walls being hingedly connected to the bottom along the line 4, 4, and the end walls .being hingedly connected to the bottom along the line 5, 5. The end walls have corner flaps on their end edges hingedly connected thereto at I.

It will be noted that the end walls and their corner flaps are of substantially greater width than the side walls, thus providing a box when erected having the eliect of recessed side walls for exposing the contents, the higher end walls protecting the goods particularly when they are wrapped so that the goods may be inspected not only through the top of the box or wrapper but through the recessed sides.

The side walls have diagonally disposed inwardly inclined slits 8 extending from the bottom edges of the side walls in spaced relation to their 2 end edges. The side walls also have in this embodiment of Figs. 1 to '7 inclusive, angled slits 9 extending from the inner edges of the slits 8 in spaced relation to the outer ends and coaction therewith to provide outwardly projecting defiectable tongues Ill.

The corner flaps 6 have notches II on their side edges with slits l2 extending from the bottoms of the notches, these slits being diagonally disposed in an upwardly inclined relation and providing tongues iii. The comer flaps 6 are separated from the end edges of the side walls by the slits I4, which are aligned with the folding scores 5. The outer edges l5 of the tongue portions of the corner flaps are curved to facilitate their entrance through the slits 8.

In erecting the box, the side walls are erected or swung to erected position and then the end walls erected with the comer flaps angularly disposed on the outer sides of the side walls. As the end walls are swung to erected position, the tongue portions of the corner flaps are inserted through the slits 8 with the result that portions of the bottom edges of the corner flaps are in supported engagement with the bottom and lie within the side walls, other portions 01' the corner flaps" being on the outer side of the side walls and in supporting engagement therewith.

When the box is fully erected, the end walls are in abutting engagement with the ends of the side walls so that the walls are supported in angular relation to the bottom and well adapted to withstand external thrust such, for example,

as occurs in wrapping the box. The angle of the corner slits correspond substantially to the angle of the side wall slits so that when the box is erected, the inner edges of the corner flap slits l2 extend longitudinally of and abuttingly engage the outer edges of the diagonal wall slits 8 as shown at 8 and I2 in Fig. 5.

I have illustrated and described my invention as adapted by me to the tray type of box for merchandising food products and the like. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising a bottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and corner flaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable on the outer sides of the side wal s when they are in erected position. the side walls having diagonally disposed slits spaced from their end edges and-extending upwardly and inwardly inclined from their bottom edges, the side walls also having angled slits on the outer sides of and opening to said diagonal slits in spaced relation to their upper ends and providing deflectable upwardly projecting tongues in the side walls, the side edges of the corner flaps being notched and provided with diagonal slits extending inwardly from said notches and providing tongues engageable with the diagonal slits of the side walls, the slits of the corner flaps being substantially parallel to the diagonal slits of the side walls when the box is erected. the inner edges of the corner flap slits engaging the outer edges of the diagonal side wall slits when the box is erected, said inner and outer edges abuttingly engaging each other substantially longitudinally each other above said tongues.

2. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising a bottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and corner flaps hlngedly connected to the ends oi the end walls and ioldable on the outer sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, the side walls having diagonally disposed slits spaced from their end edges and extending upwardly and inwardly inclined from their bottom edges, the side walls also having angled slits on the outer sides of and opening to said diagonal slits in spaced relation to their upper ends andproviding a deflectable upwardly projecting tongues in the side walls, the side edges of the corner flaps being provided with diagonal slits, the slits of the corner flaps being substantially parallel to the diagonal slits of the side walls when the box is erected, the inner edges of the corner flap slits engaging the outer edges of the diagonal side wall slits when the box is erected, said inner and outer edges abuttingly engaging each other substantially longitudinally each other above said tongues.

3. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising a bottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and corner flaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end. walls and foldable on the outer sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, the side walls having diagonally disposed slits spaced from their end edges and extending upwardly and inwardly inclined from their bottom edges, the side walls also having angled slits on the outer sides of and opening to said diagonal slits in spaced relation to their upper endsand providing defiectable upwardly projecting tongues in the side walls, the side edges of the corner flaps being notched and provided with diagonal slits extending inwardly from said notches and providing tongues engageable with the diagonal slits oi the side walls, the slits of the comer flaps being substantially parallel to the diagonal slits oi the side walls when the box is erected, the inner edges of the corner flap slits engaging the outer edges of the diagonal side wall slits when the box is erected with the end walls abutting the end edges oi the side walls and with portions 01 the bottom edges of comer flaps in abutting engagementwith the bottom within the side walls, said inner and outer edges abuttingly engaging each other substantially longitudinally each other above said tongues.

4. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising a bottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and corner flaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable on the outer sides of the side walls when they are in erected position, the side walls having diagonally disposed slits spaced from their end edges and extending upwardly and inwardly inclined from their bottom edges, the side edges of the end flaps being provided with diagonal slits engageable with the diagonal slits of the side walls, the slits of the comer flaps being substantially parallel to the diagonal slits oi the side walls when the box is erected, the inner edges of the comer flap slits engaging the outer edges of the diagonal side wall slits when the box is erected with the end walls in supported engagement with the end edges of the side walls and with portions of the bottom edges of corner flaps in supported engagement with the bottom, said inner and outer edges abuttingly engaging each other substantially longitudinally each other above said tongues.

5. A collapsible tray or box formed of an integral blank comprising a bottom and side and end walls hingedly connected thereto, and corner flaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable on the outer sides of the side walls, the side walls having upwardly extending slits closed at the lower ends thereof and spaced from the end edges of the side walls, the side edges of the flaps being provided with open ended slits extending inwardly from said side edges and being disposed substantially parallel to the slits ot the side walls when the box is erected, the inner edges of the comer flap slits engaging the outer edges of the side wall slits when the box is erected with the end walls in supported engagement with the end edges of the side walls, said inner and outer edges abuttingly engaging each KENNETH T. BU'I'I'ERY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA Number Name Date 704,549 Klein July 15, 1902 1,575,467 Van Wagenen Mar. 2, 1926 1,842,755 Hill Jan. 26, 1932 2,228,377 Wendt Jan. 14, 1941 2,334,902 Buttery Nov. 23, 1943 2,488,703 Buttery Nov. 22, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 16,038 Norway Feb. 4, 1907 170,263 Germany May 1, 1906 

